HMRC backflips on helpline closure announcements
HMRC has backflipped on this week's announcement that long periods of shutdown for self-assessment and VAT helplines,...
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With the 31 July deadline looming, more than 300,000 tax credits customers have just over one week to renew their claims, HMRC reports.
There’s less than a week to go before tax credits claims reset, and HM Revenue and Tax (HMRC) is urging anyone who has not done so to lodge their renewals now, or risk a disruption in payments.
Over 300,000 claims have yet to be renewed.
This year, about 28,000 customers have used the official HMRC smartphone app to renew their tax credits. Renewing via gov.uk was also a recommended route, with Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s director general for customer services, warning customers not to leave it till the last minute.
“There is just one week left to renew your claim – don’t delay and do it online by searching ‘tax credits’ on GOV.UK,” she said.
Lodging a claim through the app or website will allow recipients of tax credits to monitor the progress of their renewal, but claims can still be renewed by calling the tax credits helpline or by mailing in a printed form.
COVID may have complicated some people’s working arrangements this year, but HMRC advised that they do not need to be updated regarding temporary falls in a person’s working hours as a result of the pandemic.
They still require to be notified of any adjustment in living arrangements, childcare, permanent working hours, and income.
Another change this year is the phasing out of payments to post office card accounts.
From 30 November 2021, child benefit payments and tax credits will instead be paid directly into bank accounts. Anyone still using a post office card account needs to update HMRC with their bank details.
And as with any process involving personal information, HMRC cautioned customers to be wary of scams, as tax credits claimants have increasingly been targeted by fraudsters calling, texting or emailing people claiming to be from HMRC.
HMRC details a number of ways to spot fraud on its website, and notes that it only ever makes calls to customers about a claim or payment on a debt that they already know about.